3.75 🌟

I really enjoyed this book. It felt realistic in portraying how different parts of the population may react to being told we're all part of a simulation. You'll get the deniers, the conspiracy theorists, the realists, the crazies, etc. I think we see that all now, anyway. I especially loved the friendship between JP and Dulin; it was so sweet.

My only complaint is that books with so many characters to keep track of can get confusing. Especially since people were referred to by their nicknames and real names.

Recommended for readers of contemporary fiction who like to imagine the "what if".

Thank you to NetGalley and Saga Press for the ARC.

This is an all-American road trip novel, except that it takes place in a world of sentient beings who just found out they are living in a simulation. The characters (a rabbi, a nun, a novice, a comic book writer, a social media influencer, etc) are in individual existential crises as they tour monuments across the US that violate the laws of physics, which kind of rubs their noses in the fact that they are living in a sim. In addition, a famous professor is on the run from a group of Matrix wannabes while trying to break the AI. That level of chaos is pretty well how the book reads. It is also very funny. It recalls Willy Wonka, and there is a callout in the novel to Augustus Gloop. The different characters give various perspectives to the implications of living in a simulation: religious, romantic, medical and otherwise. The novel also brings up the concepts of multiverses and nested worlds. I am not sure the nested world piece hangs together. It is hard to pay attention to all the various characters and topics but it is all fun. The depressing part is how the nihilism brought on by the knowledge of the simulation so closely reflects the nihilism of our own world. What's our excuse? Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this novel.

Thanks to NetGalley & Simon & Schuster for the ARC!

Daryl Gregory’s "When We Were Real" serves up chipper existentialism and makes a full meal of it, following through on its horrifying premise with panache.

I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that I felt a definitive shift in 2020. It seemed like a lot of people decided to cope by simply adopting a spirit of insularity that has only grown since—"I don’t care about what happens to other people. They aren’t me."

"They aren’t real."

Daryl Gregory takes this mindset and runs with it. By the time we are introduced to his world, its characters have already learned they live in a simulation. Naturally, everyone feels some kind of way about it and, naturally, they decide to go on a road trip.

There’s a “Realist” podcaster who thinks the whole “we’re in a simulation” idea is a scam in and of itself.

There’s the “Influencer” who believes that the simulation is a glorified reality show, which means that her survival is contingent on giving the simulators something worth watching.

There are “Protagonists,” or incels who believe that they are some of the only conscious individuals in a world populated by NPCs.

These are just a few of the countless archetypical characters that Gregory excels at writing, making them believably single-minded and simulated. They think a little too broadly to be real, and yet that is how many of us respond to widespread crisis—we become preoccupied with whatever Occam’s Razor makes the most subjective sense of our reality.

As such, much of "When We Were Real" is very talky and comprised of competing perspectives surrounding the nature of selfhood and divinity: Does God fit inside a simulation or sit outside it? What do the simulators owe to their creations? What does existence mean when it can be snuffed out or rewritten at any given moment?

These are fascinating questions, and I think in a lesser book, they would feel almost claustrophobic. Thankfully, Gregory knows when to throw in some "Hitchhiker’s Guide" silliness or high-concept gimmicks to puncture the narrative and offer it some air. There’s time travel and dimension shifting and simulations within simulations, and it all amounts to a good-natured, richly shaded world. This is a surprisingly funny book, but how else could one respond to the absurdity of a simulated self-existence?

There’s only one critique to be made, and it is subjective, but I think the inevitable entropy of the novel’s premise is far less engaging than the rest of the book. As the plot gained chaotic momentum, I found myself wishing for Gregory’s questions more than his answers. It’s a testament to his excellent writing that the restless, listless musings of his characters are so satisfying to read, but it’s unfortunate that the final third of "When We Were Real" can’t quite sustain itself.

Nevertheless, like the road trip that propels the plot, "When We Were Real" is more about the journey than the destination, so I'm not sure that the above complaint matters. The book is still really resonant for this particular cultural moment, and it’s also one of the rare novels that I immediately feel excited to revisit at some point in the near future.

This one's a banger.

This was a super fun read. I love when stories are told through a hodgepodge of quirky, seemingly unrelated characters, and I thought this group was done particularly well!

I loved the idea of a bus tour through landmarks, and the whole thing was just a wild trip. The story hit on some thought-provoking notions of what it means to exist and tackled some of life’s Big Questions, though I felt it lost some steam toward the end—the plot and characters sort of got lost in the action of the Vertical Circus shooting and I wasn’t exactly satiated by the ending.

Overall, I found When We Were Real to be a really charming, unique read, impressively ambitious, and hard to put down! I’ll definitely read more of this author’s work.

3.5/5⭐️
I enjoyed the premise of the book. Seven years prior, it is revealed that the world is a sort of simulation. That other times lines can cross over. And the characters are a frenzy about it. I liked each character had a broad perspective on what was happening. It was eerie to think how I would react if that were reality. But I did think it was very intriguing and fun to read. I will admit that I will have to reread it because a two of the story lines seemed to blur for me. Otherwise it was an enjoyable book.

I feel like there is a pattern in books lately that is common - this book gives me the vibes of the Japanese Cafe series and another sci-fi book where people were forced to reflect and go into past situations.

I found this book to have many characters and none of them really captured me. I felt like the story itself was also all over the place. I struggled through this one, personally.

Thank you Net Galley and Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy of this book.

This is a zany tale that’s the equivalent of a “priest, rabbi, pastor walk into a bar” for humanity’s discovery that they live in a simulation. Funny and heartfelt. A few of the characters are a bit thin, but so are NPCs. And even if we all live in a simulation, we’re here for a good time.

WHAT A BOOK. i loved this SO much!! it's so quirky and weird and specific and thoughtful, and genuinely made me laugh and cry and yell out loud. everything i could ask for!

the story follows a bus full of travelers touring the Impossibles, phenomena that break the laws of physics and the natural world, and enduring proof of what everyone has been grappling with since the Announcement: the entire world, and everything and everyone in it, is a simulation. each traveler on this bus tour has their own ideas about who is running the simulation, and how it works, and how to exist inside it, along with their own lives and motives and backstories; it's much more Canterbury Tales than Matrix, with a fun outside frame narrator who comes in once in a while to give a bird's eye view, which is delightful to me! i love every single person on this bus, and i love the way the chapters alternate between their POVs so that we get to see each of them from the outside and from the inside. it's such clever storytelling, and so carefully crafted to reveal just the right information at just the right time.

of course it can't all just be about the bus tour—there's also a whole fugitive/government conspiracy/simmers plotline that i won't spoil, but it's very fun, just the right amount of craziness and dystopia and intrigue to give this whole journey some more universal stakes. when threads all converge at the end it's almost Shakespearean in its chaos, so compelling and tense and satisfying!

Revelator remains one of my all time favourite reading experiences and one of my top Horrors, so I was super jazzed to read another Daryl Gregory.

Unforutnatley I'm just not gelling with this premise and cast, so I think I'm just not the right reader for this book.

It's snappy and modern, without really being quippy. There are a lot of people in the main cast and some high, scifi concepts, but not explained in a way that tickles my brain or really makes me feel like the premise impacts all aspects of the world-building. The build-up is pretty slow and I think it's probably going to be bombastic and like a roller coaster later, but I haven't been able to refill my ADHD meds and the lack of action and plot is not holding my attention at all.

I absolutely loved this incredibly weird story. Taking place in a not so distant future, bizarre things have popped up all over the world that are called "Impossibles." This follows a bus trip of a wide cast of characters who are touring many of these destinations, all for very different reasons. It's like if the Seven Wonders of the World still all existed, except they had just shown up out of nowhere one day. Connections are made and lost, a pregnant influencer gets a little too desperate for content, and friends take a journey together for the last time.

Seven years ago, everyone discovered that they were all just living in a simulation. And then life went on. And now a group of people are on a cross-country tour of America to sightsee the Impossibles, an unlikely crew that includes 2 friends on a last hurrah tour before one dies of a brain tumor, 2 nuns and a rabbi, one very pregnant influencer, a bunch of octogenarians, and someone who most certainly is not on the run from the government.

Zany, absurd, slightly mindbending, and filled with interesting characters, I was never quite sure where this book was going to go, but I deeply enjoyed every minute. It brings up some really interesting points, all without taking itself too seriously. I also really enjoyed the structure that followed the stops on the tour and the multiple perspectives. I’d recommend this if you want to read something a little bit off of the beaten path which also getting to laugh out loud.

🖥️WHEN WE WERE REAL🖥️ by @darylwriterguy delivered a raucous dose of shenanigans along with a longing for a sense of purpose. Thank you to the author, @netgalley and the publisher @sagapressbooks for the e-ARC and finished copy. #sagasayscrew

🤖🤖🤖

Six months ago, an announcement was made to the world that it was all a simulation. Now a group of colorful characters who seem to represent some of the more sensational factions of contemporary personas are on a pilgrimage. They seek the Impossibles Tour, a new set of wonders of the world that showcase the validity of the simulation. A glitch in the system here, defied physics there. Each member of the group has their own agenda, but some are more dangerous and others are just looking for a sign that their life has meaning.

I absolutely love Gregory's sardonic wit, bold projections, quirky characters and strange imaginings. Among other things, this story has a young pregnant influencer looking for her big break, a middle-aged podcaster determined to uncover what is "real", an Avatar Messiah, a cult of Protagonists, a rabbi in love with a nun, and some seriously rowdy octogenarians! This story was wildly topical and madly entertaining. Daryl Gregory continues to hit it outta the park.

In my opinion this is a truly underrated author whose stories are gonzo-esque and full of heart.

When We Were Real
By Daryl Gregory

This is a very bizarre book. You will either love it or hate it – or maybe lose your way in it. While the story is not always easy to follow, the messaging leaves you with much to ponder.

The world, seven years ago, received a profound Announcement – it is not "real" but actually a simulation! Chaos ensues, societal norms crash, and life as we know it becomes a giant question.

The story revolves around a tour bus trip to visit the Impossibles – a series of wonders, totally inexplicable, which have suddenly appeared in the world. The tourists are a motley crew. A cancer-stricken engineer and his best friend; a nun, a novice, and a rabbi; a Taiwanese who does not interact but reads quietly in the background; a Podcast wannabe, his son and a very pregnant Influencer; an old woman in constant pain and her daughter a nurse; and four Octogenarian friends from Oregon. Aneeta, the new tour guide and Agnes, the driver, round out the tour bus cast. Then there is Gillian (a/k/a Margaret) who crashes the tour bus one step ahead of her would be murderers.

There are other characters who appear during the tour – various government agents; terrorists; and people who seem to be able to travel among various simulations to help the people caught up in this one.

While the plotting makes you feel like whiplash, there are several ideas for the reader to explore. Does God exist? Or only the controllers of the "sim"? Is it better to be very sure of what we believe or to be open to a variety of ideas? What is our purpose?

I was left with one question at the end of this book: is the unfinished quality at the end intentional – or is there perhaps a sequel to come? Either way, this book is well worth reading.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

Can AI become self-aware? This is the question that kept rolling through my head as I read this story.

WHEN WE WERE REAL gives us a large cast of characters with a lot going on. It’s difficult to keep up at first, but soon everything comes together. The story is meant to make us question reality and what it means to be human, and it excels in this mission.

I alternated between reading and listening. Ari Fliakos does a fantastic job with the narration, bringing the characters to life.

*Thanks to Saga Press for the free hardcover copy, and to Simon Audio for the free audiobook download!*

Thank you to Saga Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, & NetGalley for the free book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

When I say I have never read a book like this, I mean it. The cast of characters is overwhelming, yet the chaos adds to the charm of the story. Reading this book is like knowing how it’ll end but not knowing how it’ll all fit together and it was fun to figure it out. Nothing happened in the way I thought it would but I loved it. I think I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time, especially with how it makes me feel about life and living.

Be mindful of TW; this book contains a mass shooting scene and features gun violence.

“Eadem mutata resurgo. Although changed, I arise the same.”

3.75 - Thank you so much to Saga Press for the complimentary copy of this book!

This book is out now!

I am trying to broaden my reading this year and being a part of the Saga Says Crew is going to ensure that I do just that. I thought this book sounded interesting and enough for my wittle brain to handled. And well I was able to follow for the most part but towards the end I was a little confused as things started to unravel towards the end.

This book had a cast of characters! You meet a whole slew of folks who are on this cross country trip to see all these "Impossibles" which essentially were glitches in this simulated world that appeared 7 years ago. I would compare the Impossibles to the 7 wonders of the world except that they are all in the US. The characters were all so different and yet they are forced to be together on this long journey across the US.

I do wish I tracked who was who when I was reading just because I was not listening consistently and I kept forgetting who was doing what with whom. But when I would do bigger chunks, I didn't have any issues with following. I thought the whole idea of living in a simulation was fascinating! Especially with the way technology is vastly approaching to take over everyday life.

I read this one primarily via audiobook which occasionally I would read the physical copy that I had. The narrator was a new name to me, Ari Fliakos, who did an absolutely phenomenal job! I wish he could narrate all the books I read that has multiple point of views. He really nailed the voices and I especially loved his voice for Dulin. Highly recommend listening if you read this!

This is only my 2nd Sci Fi book and I enjoyed it way more than the other book that I have read. I am happy that I read it and I would read this author again.

If you are looking to go outside your comfort zone or enjoy Sci Fi books, give this one a try!

The plot of the book was decent and it was a unique spin on simulation theory. I am having a hard time explaining why I didn’t love it.

It was hard to pick up. I guess I was kind of bored with the story. It had so much potential, the characters were all really interesting… maybe it was just poorly written? Poorly executed? I dk. It just left me feeling meh.

Wonderful story! Very clever and well written. Not something I expected to like so much. I don't usually love this genre, but I really liked how this one played out.

This was a creative book that was a little out of my element but I really enjoyed it. It was told in multiple povs, some of which I liked better than other but overall it was good. There was a lot of chaos, emotional moments and real world moments throughout this! I was a little overwhelmed in the beginning with all of the characters being introduced right away but it quickly worked itself out. Overall I would recommend!

Thank you Saga press, imprint of Simon & Schuster , for the free copy for review!

Almost as if The Sims were a novel. This story was so interesting. Definitely enjoyed this book in all its weirdness. Some points were a little weighed down but overall kept my interest. Will recommend.